Radiator

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a radiator, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one coolant conduit device ( 1 ), in particular a plurality of coolant conduit devices such as pipes, which is or are traversed by a coolant. The aim of the invention is to create a radiator with a greater degree of efficiency than conventional radiators. To achieve this, the coolant conduit device ( 1 ) consists of a one-piece element that comprises two halves ( 11, 12 ), which are interconnected by a bending edge ( 8 ) that runs in the longitudinal direction of the coolant conduit device ( 1 ).

The invention relates to a radiator, in particular for a motor vehicle,having at least one coolant conducting device, in particular a pluralityof coolant conducting devices, such as tubes, which is or are traversedby a cooling medium which is to be cooled.

Radiators are known from the international laid-open specification WO99/13282 and the American laid-open specification US 2002/0139520 A1,whose coolant conducting tubes are in each case formed from twopunched-out and embossed plates which are soldered to one another attheir periphery.. The soldered faces reduce the cross section of thecoolant conducting tubes which is traversed by the cooling medium.

It is the object of the invention to provide a radiator, in particularfor a motor vehicle, having at least one coolant conducting device, inparticular a plurality of coolant conducting devices, such as tubes,which is or are traversed by a cooling medium which is to be cooled,which radiator has an improved degree of efficiency over conventionalradiators.

The object is achieved in a radiator, in particular for a motor vehicle,having at least one coolant conducting device, in particular a pluralityof coolant conducting devices, such as tubes, which is or are traversedby a cooling medium which is to be cooled, in that the coolantconducting device is formed in one piece from two parts, in particularhalves, which are connected to one another by means of a bending edgewhich runs in the longitudinal direction of the coolant conductingdevice. Since the two parts or halves are already integrally connectedto one another at the bending edge, they need be soldered to one anotheronly at one side. This increases the cross section traversed by thecooling medium. In addition, the number of individual parts required isreduced by half, since only one part is still required per coolantconducting device.

One preferred exemplary embodiment of the radiator is characterized inthat the coolant conducting device is formed by a substantiallyrectangular plate which is divided by the bending edge into two elongatehalves which are folded together. The plate is preferably an embossedpunched part made from a metallic material which is simple andcost-effective to produce. The plate halves bear congruently against oneanother when in the folded-together state.

A further preferred exemplary embodiment of the radiator ischaracterized in that the plate has a peripheral edge which is elevatedwith respect to the plate surface. The plate is preferably embossedwithin the peripheral edge, with the depth of the embossed face beinghalf of the clear width of the coolant conducting device.

A further preferred exemplary embodiment of the radiator ischaracterized in that the peripheral edge is interrupted at the pointsof intersection with the bending edge. In the region of the bendingedge, the plate has the same depth over the entire length of the bendingedge. This prevents undesired damage to the plate material in the regionof the bending edge when the plate halves are folded together.

A further preferred exemplary embodiment of the radiator ischaracterized in that the two plate halves bear against one another withthe peripheral edge when in the folded-together state. The plate halvesare preferably soldered to one another at the peripheral edge.

A further preferred exemplary embodiment of the radiator ischaracterized in that in each case one connection piece is formed at theends of the plate halves. The connection pieces are preferably formed bydeep-drawn cups which serve to connect two coolant conducting devices,which are arranged on top of one another, to one another. This has theadvantage that separate connecting tubes can be dispensed with.

A further preferred exemplary embodiment of the radiator ischaracterized in that a plurality of elevations are formed on each platehalf, which elevations bear against one another when the plate halvesare in the folded-together state. The elevations which are solderedtogether are preferably embossed knobs which contribute to animprovement in heat transfer and, as tie rods, to an increase instrength.

A further preferred exemplary embodiment of the radiator ischaracterized in that a turbulence insert is arranged between twofolded-together plate halves. The turbulence insert, which is preferablysoldered to the plate halves, serves to improve heat transfer and as atie-rod for increasing strength.

A further preferred exemplary embodiment of the radiator ischaracterized in that a plurality of coolant conducting devices arestacked on top of one another, and in that in each case one airconducting device is arranged between two coolant conducting devices.The air conducting device preferably comprises a plurality of air guidefins which are integrally connected to one another.

A further preferred exemplary embodiment of the radiator ischaracterized in that the coolant conducting device and the airconducting device are formed from the same sheet metal material, inparticular from aluminum sheet. This has the advantage that the completeradiator is formed from only one material and is therefore easilyrecyclable.

The radiator is preferably embodied as an oil cooler, coolant cooler orfuel cooler, though other applications of the invention are alsopossible.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention can begathered from the following description in which different exemplaryembodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawing. Here,features specified in the claims and in the description can in each casebe essential to the invention individually or in any desiredcombination. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a coolant conducting tube in the unfoldedstate;

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the view of a section along the line III-III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a side view, from the right, of the coolant conducting tubefrom FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows the coolant conducting tube from FIG. 1 in a partlypivoted-together state;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the partly pivoted-together coolantconducting tube from FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged detail of the coolant conducting tubeillustrated in FIG. 1 according to a further embodiment with knobs;

FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration of a turbulence insert;

FIG. 9 shows the coolant conducting tube from FIG. 1 in the partlypivot-together state, with a turbulence insert as illustrated in FIG. 8placed therein;

FIG. 10 shows the coolant conducting tube from FIG. 1 in the completelypivoted-together or folded-together state;

FIG. 11 shows a side view, from the left, of the coolant conducting tubeillustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 shows a front view of a radiator having a plurality ofsoldered-together coolant conducting tubes, between which air conductingdevices are arranged;

FIG. 13 shows the view of a section along the line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 shows a plan view of the radiator from FIG. 12, and

FIG. 15 shows, in an enlarged illustration, a sectioned view through twosoldered-together connection pieces of the radiator from FIG. 12.

FIG. 1 illustrates a coolant conducting tube 1 according to theinvention in the unfolded-state. The coolant conducting tube 1 is formedby a plate 4 which is in substantially the shape of rectangle whosecorners have been rounded off. The plate 4 is a punched part made fromaluminum sheet, which has a bending edge 8 which serves to divide theplate 4 in the longitudinal direction into two equal-sized halves 11 and12. The bending edge 8 simultaneously forms an axis of symmetry of theplate 4. The plate 4 is delimited at the outside by a peripheral edge 15which serves for soldering the two plate halves 11 and 12 to one anotherin the folded-together or pivoted-together state. Within the peripheraledge 15, the plate halves 11 and 12 are embossed, that is to sayrecessed, into the plane of the drawing, so that the peripheral edge 15is elevated above the plate halves 11 and 12. In each case oneconnection piece 21, 22, 23, 24 is formed in the end regions of theplate halves 11 and 12. The connection pieces 21 to 24 are substantiallyin the form of tube connections which serve to connect two coolantconducting tubes, which are arranged on top of one another, to oneanother.

FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged detail from FIG. 1. In the enlargeddetail, it can be seen that the peripheral edge 15 is not designed to becontinuous in the region of its intersection with the bending edge 8,but is interrupted in a section 26. In the same way, the peripheral edge15 is also interrupted at the other end of the bending edge 8. Theinterruption of the peripheral edge 15 in the section 26 ensures thatthe plate halves 11 and 12 have a constant embossed depth in the regionof the bending edge 8.

In the sectioned view illustrated in FIG. 3, it can be seen that theconnection piece 21 has a side wall 30 which is in substantially theshape of a circular cylindrical surface and is closed off by a base 31.In the same way, the connection piece 22 comprises a side wall 33 whichis in substantially the shape of a circular cylindrical surface and isclosed off by a base 34.

In the side view of FIG. 4, it can be seen that the surface of the platehalves 11 and 12 is spaced apart from the peripheral edge 15 by anembossed depth t, specifically also in the region of the section 26. Thelength or height of the connection pieces 22, 23 is denoted in FIG. 4 byh.

FIG. 5 shows the coolant conducting tube 1 in a partly pivoted-togetheror folded-together state. The plate halves 11 and 12 are arranged at anangle of 90° to one another about the bending edge 8. It can be seenfrom FIG. 5 that the bases 31, 34 of the connection pieces 21, 22 arenot closed off but are provided with a central passage hole 38, 39. Thepassage holes 38, 39 provide flow connections between two coolantconducting tubes which are stacked on top of one another.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the partly folded-together coolantconducting tube 1 in FIG. 5. This illustration once again denotes theembossed depth t of the surface of the plate halves 11 and 12 and thelength or height h of the connection pieces 21 and 24.

FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged detail of the coolant conducting tube 1from FIG. 1 according to a further embodiment. A plurality of knobs 41,42; 45, 46, which extend into the plane of the paper, are embossed intothe plate halves 11 and 12. The knobs 41, 42 and 45, 46 come intocontact with one another at their free ends when the plate halves 11 and12 are folded or pivoted together. The knobs serve to increase thedegree of heat transfer and the strength of the folded-together coolantconducting tube 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration of a turbulence insert 50 which canbe placed into the coolant conducting tube 1 instead of the knobs, asillustrated in FIG. 9. The turbulence insert 50 has the same functionand effect as the knobs in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG.7.

FIG. 10 illustrates a plan view of a completely folded-together orpivoted-together coolant conducting tube 1. When viewed together withthe side view from the left illustrated in FIG. 11, it can be seen thatthe two plate halves 11 and 12 bear against one another at theperipheral edge 15. The plate halves are soldered to one another at saidperipheral edge 15. The plate halves 11 and 12 are integrally connectedto one another in the region of the bending edge 8. The connectionpieces 22 and 23 are raised in opposite directions from the plate halves11 and 12.

FIGS. 12 to 14 illustrate different views of a soldered-togetherradiator which comprises nine coolant conducting tubes 61 to 69 whichare soldered together at their connection pieces to form a block. Theradiator block is delimited at the top and at the bottom by terminatingplates 70 and 71. In the upward direction, the coolant conducting tube61 has two connection pieces 73 and 74 which are closed off by theterminating plate 70. The connection piece 73 serves, for example, as aninlet connection for the coolant. The connection piece 74 serves, forexample, as an outlet connection for the coolant. At its lower side, thecoolant conducting tube 61 has two connection pieces 75 and 76. Thecoolant conducting tube 71 bears with its connection pieces 75 and 76against connection pieces 77 and 80 which are formed on the coolantconducting tube 62. The connection pieces 76 and 80 and 75 and 77 aresoldered to one another and produce a flow connection between thecoolant conducting tubes 61 and 62. Two connection pieces 78 and 79 areformed at the underside of the coolant conducting tube 62, whichconnection pieces 78 and 79 are in the same way connected to thecorresponding connection pieces of the coolant conducting tube 63arranged below. An air conducting device 110 is arranged between theterminating plate 70 and the coolant conducting tube 61. The airconducting device 110 is a zigzag-shaped corrugated fin structure. Ineach case one air conducting device 111; 112 is arranged in each casebetween two coolant conducting tubes 61, 62; 62, 63.

In FIG. 15, the bending edge of the coolant conducting tube 61 isdenoted by 80. At the side opposite the bending edge 80, the two platehalves 81 and 82 are soldered together at their peripheral edge 84. Inthe same way, the plate halves 91 and 92 of the coolant conducting tube62 are soldered together at the peripheral edge 94 at the side oppositethe bending edge 90. It can be also seen in FIG. 15 that the coolantconducting tubes 61 and 62 have a continuous flow connection by means ofthe passage holes 101 to 104.

1. A radiator, in particular for a motor vehicle, having at least onecoolant conducting device, in particular a plurality of coolantconducting devices, such as tubes, which is or are traversed by acooling medium which is to be cooled, wherein the coolant conductingdevice is formed in one piece from two parts, in particular halves,which are connected to one another by means of a bending edge which runsin the longitudinal direction of the coolant conducting device.
 2. Theradiator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coolant conducting device isformed by a substantially rectangular plate which is divided by thebending edge into two elongate halves which are folded together.
 3. Theradiator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plate has a peripheral edgewhich is elevated with respect to the plate surface.
 4. The radiator asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the peripheral edge is interrupted at thepoints of intersection with the bending edge.
 5. The radiator as claimedclaim 3, wherein the two plate halves (11,12) bear against one anotherwith the peripheral edge (15) when in the folded-together state.